French Chestnut Dressing

Chestnut dressing is the classic accompaniment to the holiday bird in France, where chestnuts are more readily available then in other parts of the world. Make this with Toulouse sausage for an authentic French taste.

Chestnuts in France

You'll find chestnuts used in many ways in France and they are featured in both sweet and savory dishes. Here are some of the common ways French people buy and use chestnuts:

• Sweetened Chestnut Puree - This is the most popular way to eat a chestnut in our house. Warning: this stuff is divine tasting and you may soon find yourself with a spoon in hand and dipping in the jar for a little unplanned smackeral.
• Chestnut Flour - Ground chestnuts are gluten free and make a tasty addition to many recipes including cakes, crepes, and breads.
• Fresh Chestnuts - These are available in the grocery store in the fall, and in France there are lots of people that collect their own. Learn about cooking chestnuts here.
• Canned Roasted Chestnuts - This is what I use for the following recipe and for most of my savory dishes that call for chestnuts. Buying your chestnuts in a can or jar is a great time saver for all of your chestnut recipes.

You can either stuff your favorite bird with this chestnut stuffing recipe or you can bake it in a separate baking dish. I like to surround a pork roast with this dressing and bake it all together. If you can find them, I highly recommend using Toulouse Sausage to make this.

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